Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary commented on the State Energy Regulatory Commission’s actions regarding the diocese

Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary issued an official statement to the faithful of his diocese, in which he expressed concern over the actions of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS). The statement was prompted by the results of a recent investigation by the agency, which revealed indications of the diocese’s affiliation with foreign religious organizations.

According to the metropolitan’s statement, the leadership of the Boryspil Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church considers the conclusions of the state experts to be unfounded. In particular, it is emphasized that during the investigation, representatives of the diocese were not contacted for clarification, and the government agency’s position itself was based on outdated materials from ten years ago.

His Eminence Anthony pointed out that the DESS document contains no legal evidence of a violation of Ukrainian law. The Metropolitan emphasized: “An administrative act by the DESS cannot take the place of a court and definitively resolve issues that fall under judicial jurisdiction.” He reminded that, according to Ukrainian law, the question of terminating the activities of a religious organization falls exclusively within the jurisdiction of the courts.

Commenting on the situation, Metropolitan Anthony called on the clergy and the faithful to remain calm and continue their prayerful efforts despite external pressure. At the conclusion of the statement, a blessing was given to church rectors to read this text after the Divine Liturgy on September 20, in order to convey the diocesan administration’s position to all parishioners.

As a reminder, it was previously reported that Ukraine’s State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) officially confirmed the discovery of evidence of affiliation between the Administration of the Boryspil Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and a foreign religious organization, whose activities are prohibited on the territory of Ukraine—a reference to the Russian Orthodox Church.